Switch



June ll, 1935. o. LAPLANTE SWITCH Filed June ll, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor lakh/h@ O. LAPLANTE June 11, 1793.5.

SWITCH Filed June ll, 1934 Patente-d June 11, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SWITCH Ovide Laplante, Riviere Du Loup Centre, Quebec, Canada 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in electrical switch construction.

An object of the invention is the provision of an improved switch for controlling the operation of an electric circuit and particularly for the electric circuit of an automobile orthe like.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an electric switch designed so as to enable convenient and rapid, yet fool-proof, operation.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a switch of the above character having key-operated theft-proof locking mechanism connected therewith.

Still another object of the invention the provision of an electric switch of the above character which will be durable in construction and eiiicient and reliable in operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description progrosses.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of the switch operatively connected with the electric circuit of an automobile,

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the same,

Figure 3 is an end View of the same,

Figure 4 is a similar View showing the extended position of the plunger in dotted lines,

Figure 5 is a similar view showing the plunger extended and turned to a switch closing position,

Figure 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line 6-5 of Figure 3,

Figure 7 is a similar View showing the switch in closed position,

Figure 8 is a transverse section taken on the line 8 8 of Figure 5,

Figure 9 is an enlarged transverse section taken on the line 9 9 of Figure 4,

Figure l0 is a vertical section through the switch structure with the blade arranged in an open position,

Figure ll is a similar view showing the blade disposed in a switch closing position,

Figure l2 is a transverse section on the line |2--l2 of Figure 10,

Figure 13 is a similar view taken on the line |3-l3 of Figure 10,

Figure 14 is a section on the line lll-I4 of Figure 10,

Figure l5 is a transverse section on the line l5-I5 of Figure 10.

Referring to the drawings wherein, for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 20 generally designates the main box-like housing of the switch having the terminals of circuit 'conductors 2i and 22 entering through opposed sides 5 thereof.

To each of the terminals within the housing is connected a metallic contact plate 24, said plates being arranged so that their outer end portions assume closely spaced overlapping positions and formed to provide resilient contact elements.

Upon the top of the housing 2S, adjacent one end thereof, is mounted an upstanding tubular casing 26 threaded into the housing cover. Movably tted within the casing 25 is a plunger 21 having an upper non-circular, preferably square, shank portion 28 and a lower, relatively long, round or cylindrical shank portion 29. Above the non-circular portion 28 the plunger is formed with an annular enlarged shoulder 30 having a 2O diameter greater than the vertical bore through the casing and adapted to rest on the top thereof when the plunger is retracted. At the top, the plunger is proxided with a transversely elongated knob 3l. At the intermediate portion, the 2- plunger 2'! is formed with a transverse bolt receiving bore 32.` From the bore 32 to the top of the plunger is formed a central longitudinal bore, generally indicated at 33.

Within the lower part of the vertical bore 33 is rotatably tted a plug 35 formed with an upstanding reduced non-circular stem portion 35 arranged within the upper portion of the bore. At the lower end of the plug 33 is provided a depending pin 3l arranged eccentrically at the end of the plug and entering a transverse slot formed in a bolt 38 slidably mounted in the transverse bore 32. One end of the bolt 38 is adapted to enter an aperture 38 in the casing 26 in looking position. An operating key 4S is adapted to engage over the stem 33, whereupon rotation of said key will actuate the bolt 38 into locking or unlocked position, as the case may be. About the lower part of the plunger 2l' is iitted a coiled compression spring 112 the lower end bearing against 45 a pair of pins 43 attached to and projecting laterally from opposed sides of the plug and tending to compress the spring between a shoulder at the intermediate portion of the casing and the pins. The spring 42 functions to slide the 50 bolt to an axially retracted position in the casing.

The lower part of the plunger is in co-operative engagement with a switch blade supporting member 45 preferably constituting a rotary cylindrical shell having the upper portion arranged concen- 55 trically about the lower part of the plunger. At diametrically opposed sides the top part of the cylindrical shell is formed with a pair of vertically elongated slots 45 into which the plunger pins .Q13 are slidably projected. The bottom of the shell 45 is covered with insulating caps 47 securely attached to the shell. To the bottom exposed face of the outside insulating cap el is securely connected one end of a switch contact blade 49, the major portion of the flat elongated blade projecting laterally from the shell and disposed so that the outer end portion may be rotated to frictionally engage the outer ends of the contact plates 24, as shown at Figure 7.

n operating the switch to control the electric circuit of an automobile or for other similar operation, when it is desired to actuate the switch v from an open to a switch closing position, the key 40 is initially inserted into the top bore of the plunger and into engagement with the stem Upon rotation of the key, causing similar rotation of the stem and plug 35, the locking bolt 33 will be slid transversely from its extended locking position to a retracted opening position. The operator thereafter grasps the knob 3l and pulls the plunger upwardly to an 'extended position removing the upper square shank 28 from the upper1 part of the casing which is formed with a square opening to receive said shank. The plunger .is rotated, while in an extended position, through an arc of approximately swinging the switch blade 49 into resilient contact with the two contact plates 24, thus closing the electric circuit. When the plug is thus adjusted, it is released and automatically restored to a retracted nonturning position by the compression springy l2 so that the switch is firmly held in circuit closing arrangement. l

As shown at Figures l to 5, I prefer mounting the switch upon supporting brackets attached to the frame or frame structure so that the upstanding part of the switch will be disposed immediately in front of the drivers seat, readily accessibli:v for operation at all times.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described'is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that Various changes as to the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted lto without departing from the spirit vof the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

'tric circuit, a movable blade operable to assume circuit closing engagement with the iixed contact means, a rotary blade supporting member, means rigidly connecting one end of the blade with the bottom of the said member, a casing attached to the housing, a rotary plunger axially movable in the casing, the said plunger engaging the casing so as to be non-rotatable when retracted and rotatable when extended, means connecting the plunger with the blade supporting member so that the latter is rotated with the plunger, and means for immovably locking the plunger in the casing.

2. A switch of the character described comprising a housing, iixed contact means in the housing connected with the terminals of an electric circuit, a movable blade operable to assume circuit closing engagement with the fixed contact means, a rotary blade supporting member, means rigidly connecting one end of the blade with the bottom of the said member, a casing attached to the housing, a rotary plunger axially movable in the casing, the said plunger engaging the casing so as to be non-rotatable when retracted and rotatable when extended, means connecting the plunger with the blade supporting member so that the latter is rotated with the plunger, and keyV actuated mechanism for locking the plunger in the casing.

3. A switch of the character described comprising a housing, fixed contact means in the housing connected with the terminals of an electric circuit, a movable blade operable to assume circuit closing engagement with the ilxed contact means, a rotary blade supporting member, means rigidly connecting one end of the blade with the bottom of the said member, a casing attached to the housing, a rotary plunger axially movable in the casing, the said plunger engaging the casing so as to be non-rotatable when retracted andV rotatable when extended, lmeans connecting the plunger with the blade supporting member so that the latter is rotated with the plunger, key actuated mechanism 'for locking the plunger in the casing, and spring means urging the plunger to a retracted position in the casing.

4. A switch of the character described comprising a housing, fixed contact means in the housing connected with the terminals of an electric circuit, a movable blade operable to assume circuit closing engagement with the xed contact means, a rotary blade supporting member, means rigidly connecting one end of the blade with the bottom of the said member, a casing attached to the housing, a rotary plunger axially movable in the casing, the said plunger engaging the casing so as to be non-rotatable when retracted and rotatable when extended, means connecting the plunger with the blade supporting member so that the latter is rotated with the plunger, a locking bolt slidably tted in the plunger, and key controlled mechanism for actuating the bolt to a plungerv locking position.

OVIDE LAPLANTE. 

